Militants of the Nigeria-based Boko Haram Takfiri group have reportedly captured a rural town in southeastern Niger after launching a large-scale offensive in the troubled border area.

Local residents said Boko Haram extremists mounted an all-out attack against Bosso, located around 1,365 kilometers (848 miles) from Niger’s capital, Niamey, on Friday afternoon, forcing Nigerien military forces to withdraw from the area without any resistance.

On November 25, 2015, 18 people were killed, eleven hurt, and 100 homes torched in a Boko Haram militant attack against the village of Wogom close to Bosso.

A humanitarian worker, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Takfiris came from Nigeria and crossed the Komadougou Yobe River, which lies on the border between Niger and Nigeria.

Militants and bombers from Boko Haram terrorist group have staged repeated attacks in Niger’s southeastern region of Diffa near Nigeria since February, leaving hundreds of people dead.

Boko Haram started its campaign of militancy in 2009 with the aim of toppling the central government in Nigeria. It has so far taken the lives of at least 17,000 people and forced over 2.5 million others to flee their homes.

The terror group has pledged allegiance to Daesh (ISIS / ISIL) Takfiri terrorists, who are mainly wreaking havoc in Syria and Iraq.

Boko Haram has spread its attacks from northeastern Nigeria, its traditional stronghold, into neighboring Chad, Niger and Cameroon.